Goel's Teflon sponge internal shunt for anterior spinal arachnoid cyst

We report a case of a 6-year-old boy who presented with progressive quadriparesis and bowel-bladder incontinence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed anteriorly located arachnoid cyst in the cervicodorsal region. Following marsupialization of the cyst, an internal Teflon sponge shunt (Goel's shunt) was done that extended from the cyst cavity to the subarchnoid space. The patient improved dramatically in his symptoms. The physical nature of the teflon sponge and its usefulness as an internal shunt are discussed.